Electronic tuning apparatus

ABSTRACT

PUSH-BUTTON OPERATED TUNING APPARATUS, INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED PARALLEL SLIDE MEMBERS AND A SINGLE MANUALLY OPERABLE PUSH-BUTTON TRANSLATABLE LATERALLY OF SAID SLIDE MEMBERS TO ANY ONE OF A PLURALITY OF DETENTED POSITIONS IN WHICH IT MAY BE DEPRESSED TO ACTUATE ONE OF SAID SLIDE MEMBERS AND TUNE THE APPARATUS TO BE PRESELECTED FREQUENCY CORRESPONDING TO THAT POSITION.

7 G. GOULD ETAL ELEcTRomd' TUNING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1969 INVENTOR) Glf/V/V 6'. 60010 Feb. 9, 1971 G. GOULD ETAL ELECTRONIC TUNING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1969 s W Y R 7 m m N/ 7 E0 M VON m M a 5% w H am w Y B 7 8 4 4 6 4 -H a a United States Patent O 3,561,276 ELECTRONIC TUNING APPARATUS Glenn E. Gould, Rockledge, Fla., and Francis W. Van

Benthem, Woodstock, N.Y., assignors to Philco-Ford Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 5, 1969, Ser. No. 821,831 Int. Cl. F16h 35/18 U.S. Cl. 74-10.37 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Push-button operated tuning apparatus, including a plurality of elongated parallel slide members and a single manually operable push-button translatable laterally of said slide members to any one of a plurality of detented positions in which it may be depressed to actuate one of said slide members and tune the apparatus to a preselected frequency corresponding to that position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of the invention is particularly useful in compact radio equipment, where space limitations interfere with use of a conventional array of individual push buttons. Contemporary push-button radios, for example automobile radios, usuallyare provided with five buttons each of which is cooperable with an adjustable slide member, whereby to allow for selection of five pre-set stations. As the technology has advanced, and radio electronics have become miniaturized, the overall size of the radio primarily is determined by the size of the push-button mechanism. Accordingly efforts have been made to decrease the physical size of the push buttons. However there is a lower limit below which size reduction is not feasible. This lower limit is generally considered to be the width of the forefinger of a mans gloved hand.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION It is the general objective of this invention to make it possible to employ very compact tuning mechanisms and thereby to decrease the size of push-button electronic equipment. These advantages are achieved through the use of a single push button mounted for translational movement across the face of the tuner and into a plurality of positions in each of which it is cooperable with a corresponding one of a plurality of station-selecting slide means. In accordance with our invention, this single push button positively engages the slide members to provide for movement of the latter into a frequency-selecting terminal position, thence back to a rest position, and also to another terminal position in which it is possible to preselect the frequency to which each slide means will adjust the tuner. The invention is also featured by the provision of detent means engageable by said push button as it moves progressively into cooperative position with respect to the slide members, whereby to apprise the operator that a particular slide member is conditioned for operation by the push button.

In one aspect, the invention provides for band switching, in response to locating movements of the push button.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a compact radio receiver having the apparatus of the invention applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a perspective and partially fragmentary illustration of treadle bar and push-button apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the manually operable push button and shows one form of detent means which may be associated therewith;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective illustration of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view looking in the direction of the line 55 applied to FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 illustrates push-button locating detent means of the kind used in the embodiment of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With detailed reference to the drawing, and initially to FIGS. 1-3 thereof, a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated as applied to an automobile radio receiver shown in outline at 10. The receiver incorporates conventional tunable circuits, and has projecting from the forward wall thereof slide-operated tuning apparatus 11. This apparatus is contained within a metal housing 12 (FIG. 2) in the forward portion of which is mounted a single manually operable push button 13. This push button is engageable selectively with any desired one of a plurality of slide members, two of which are shown in full lines at 14 and 15. These slide members are journalled within a plate P for reciprocable movements toward and away from a pivoted treadle bar assembly 16 which is of known type comprising a pair of parallel rods carried by pivotally mounted plate 16a. The invention contemplates that the spacing between individual slide members may be considerably less than such spacing in prior apparatus, which included a separate push button for each slide member.

Slide apparatus of this kind is well known in the art and brief description of its operation is sufficient for present purposes. In such slide apparatus depressing of any selected slide member from its rest position shown in full lines in FIG. 2, brings its treadle-actuating cam (see for example cam C of slide 14) into contact with the rods of the treadle assembly. Such contact rotates the treadle assembly and actuates a carriage or core bar which appears at 17 and is coupled at 17a to treadle plate 16a. The core bar drives tunable elements contained within the receiver 10, for example frequency-determining cores. Such cores, and the manner in which they are adjustably coupled to the core bar, are well known and accordingly are not illustrated herein. Further, in mechanism of this kind, the slide members, for example the slide member 15, may be moved from the illustrated rest position into a left-hand terminal position, as viewed in FIG. 2, in which the cam contacts the treadle bar to tune the receiver after which it returns to the illustrated rest position under the action of spring 18. Each slide member also may be brought into a right-hand, forwardly projecting, terminal position. This position is suggested by the broken line showing of knob 13, and in such position a forward portion of the slide (see portion 14a of slide member 14) is withdrawn from a rearward portion 14b, thereby freeing the cam and accommodating manual tuning of the receiver by knob 19 and associated conventional linkage. After the receiver has been tuned to a desired frequency, which establishes a corresponding position of the treadle assembly, any selected slide member is moved inwardly of the mechanism to bring its cam into registry with the upper and lower rods of the treadle assembly. The cam is locked in this position by continued inward movement of slide portion 14a. After the cam has been locked, reactuation of the slide member returns the receiver to the frequency determined by the position of the cam. The construction and operation of this portion of the apparatus, as well as the function of the ONOFF switch 20, and of the tuning indicator 21, will be understood without further description.

In particular accordance with our invention, and in the interest of making it possible to reduce the width of the tuning apparatus, we provide the mentioned single manually operable push button 13 which is adapted to actuate each slide member, in the manner described below.

Push button 13, which projects forwardly through a deformable cover 22 to a position accessible from the front of the receiver, comprises a plunger rod 23 mounted for reciprocation within a mounting block 24 and having at its rearward end a generally C-shaped slide-operating portion 25 which is cooperable with the head 26 of any selected slide member.

In order that the C-shaped portion 25 of push button 13 may be brought into cooperation with the heads of the slide members, progressively and selectively, the block 24 is apertured to slide freely upon a pair of rods 27-27. As appears to good advantage in FIGS. 2 and 3 the block 24 may he slid along the bars, in response to lateral pressure applied to the button 13, causing movement of the C-shaped portion 25 transversely of the path of movement of the slide members whereby to bring said C-shaped portion into engagement with the head 26 of any selected slide member.

When the push button is engaged in this manner with a selected slide member, pressing of the bush button toward the radio receiver, against the pressure of spring 18, brings the cam member C of the selected push button into contact with the treadle bar, tuning the apparatus to any preselected frequency, as described above. When the operators finger is removed from the push button 13 the actuated slide member returns to the position shown in full lines in FIG. 2, under the influence of spring 18. It will be appreciated that the push button also may be pulled outwardly, by grasping and pulling button 13, to withdraw any selected slide member, as already described, unlocking the cam and permitting adjustment in the frequency to which that member will tune the receiver.

Grid shaped track means T is provided to prevent movement of the push button toward and away from the receiver, unless it occupies a station-selecting position engaging the head 26 of one of the slide members. A pin 25a, carried by the upper surface of button portion 25, extends into track T for sliding movements therein. The transverse slot of the track permits lateral sliding movement of the push button, while the track portions which extend in the direction of the depth of the receiver are disposed in pairs and aligned with the individual slide members. In order that the operator may recognize the station-selecting positions of the push button, as it is translated across the forward portion of the receiver, we provide detent means, for example the shaft 28, which moves with the push button and traverses a fixed reference plate 29 (shown in exploded perspective in FIG. 2) having a plurality of indentations 30, 31 toward which the detent means is urged through the action of resilient means. Conveniently, this means may take the form of a leaf spring such as is shown at 32. This leaf spring has a pair of arms one of which bears resiliently against the detent member urgingit into contact with the correspond ing depressions formed in the scale 29; the free end of the other arm is wrapped around and su ports the detent means. The spring member is secured to block 24 in any convenient manner, as by the use of screws shown at 33.

In the modified embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, there is illustrated a slide member structure which is identical to the counterpart structure illustrated in the primary embodiment described above. However, the push button is mounted in different fashion, a modified detent is employed, and switch apparatus 34 is provided to permit switching between two broadcast bands, as the button is slid transversely of the slide members.

The push button, shown at 35, has a generally C- 4 shaped inner end portion 36 engageable with the head of any one of the slide members, for example the slide member designated at 37. The portion 36 is apertured to receive upper and lower slide rods 38 and 39, upon which the button may he slid laterally across the tuner to provide for selective engagement with the heads of the slide members. Upper and lower tracks 40 and 41, formed in the side walls of the main frame or enclosure, are of a length to permit the push button 35, together with its slide rods, to be moved from the illustrated rest postion to an inner, station-selecting, position and also to an outer cam-adjusting position, as described with reference to the first embodiment. Relatively wide bearing members of any convenient type, such for example as the discs 42, secure the ends of the rods 38, 39 and prevent jamming of the rods when the push button is reciprocated. The button is returned to rest position under the influence of a spring which is not shown but is similar to the spring 18 described with reference to FIG. 2.

A pair of soft leaf springs 43-43 have their adjacent ends nested within the shank of the push button 35, in the manner best shown in FIG. 6. These springs serve as detent means enabling the operator to recognize when the push button has been brought into cooperative relation with a selected slide member. As will be understood, the leaf springs are adapted to deflect and to permit the push button to he slid laterally along the rods 38, 39 and into engagement with another slide member. Further, to aid in positioning the push button, there is provided a series of stops 44 upstanding from a lower forward framing member 45 which carries the switch 34. These stops prevent movement of the push button inwardly for station selection unless it occupies a position in which it confronts a slide member.

The switching apparatus 34 comprises a suitable snap switch 46, of known type, and a switch operating member 47 mounted for rocking movements about a pivot 48. The member 47 is disposed for operation by a projection 49 carried by a lower extending portion of the pushbutton assembly. Assuming that the slide members appearing toward the left half of the tuner in FIG. 4 are associated with the standard broadcast band, and that the righthand slide members are intended to select stations in the FM band, it will be understood that switching to PM is accomplished by moving the button toward the right until the projection 49 makes contact with the member 47, swinging the latter about its pivot 48 and selecting FM circuits controlled by the contacts of switch 46. When the push button is returned toward the left side of the tuner assembly, to the position shown in FIG. 4, a second switch-operating portion 47a will be struck and moved downwardly thereby switching the apparatus back to the broadcast band.

We claim:

1. In tuning apparatus for an electronic receiver, rotatable treadle means adapted to effect tuning of such apparatus in accordance with the rotational position of said treadle means, at least three slide means each reciprocable between a rest position and a tuning position in which it engages and rotates said treadle means, a manually operable push button mounted for movements transverse the path of movement of said slide means and into a plurality of positions in each of which said push button may be reciprocated to operate one of said slide means, and means providing the operator with an indication that said push button means has been brought into registry with a selected slide means.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, and in which said last means comprises resiliently interengageable detent elements one of which is mounted to move with said push button and the other of which is mounted in a position corresponding with the positions in which said push button may be reciprocated to operate one of said slide means.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, and further characterized in that each said slide means includes a rotatable cam disposed to rotate said treadle means, each said slide means being withdrawable from its rest position to a third position in which it is possible to adjust the degree of rotation which said cam will impart to said treadle means, said manually operable pushbutton being engageable with each said slide means to effect movements of the latter between rest, tuning and third positions.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, and in which said indication means comprises leaf spring structure carried by said push button and disposed to bear resiliently against said slide means when said push button is in registry therewith.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, and further including rod structure upon which said push button is mounted for the mentioned transverse movements.

6. In electronic apparatus of the kind including tunable means, linkage means for imparting movement to said tunable means, and a plurality of manually operable slide means, each movable to one terminal position to adjust said tunable means and to another terminal position to provide for adjustment of the frequency to Which each slide means will adjust said tunable means, the improvements which comprise: a manually operable push button mounted for movement into a plurality of positions in each of which it is engageable with a free end of a corresponding one of said slide means, said push button being reciprocable in each of its positions to provide for .movement of a corresponding slide means between its terminal positions; and detent means engageable by said push button as it reaches any of its positions and effective to apprise the operator that a preselected slide means is conditioned for engagement by said push button.

7. In combination with radio tuning apparatus of the kind having a plurality of elongated parallel slide members each reciprocable between a rest position and a frequency-determining position and each adjustable to provide for preselection of a desired frequency, certain of said slide members being adapted to select frequencies in one broadcast band and certain thereof to select frequencies in another broadcast band, a manually operable push button mounted for movement in a direction transverse the direction of reciprocation of said slide members and movable into positions of registry With said slide members progressively and selectively, said push button being mounted for reciprocation in each such position and engageable in such position with one of said slide members to actuate the same, and band-switch means disposed to be actuated by movements of said push button in the mentioned transverse direction.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7, and further including stop means preventing reciprocation of said push button when not engaged with one of said slide members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,356,935 8/1944 Koch 74-10.27X 2,464,045 3/1949 Kuenstler 334-7X MILTON MUF MAN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 3347 

